The forest had grown eerily quiet, the only sound the soft crunch of Claire’s and Ethan’s footsteps. The moonlight filtered through the twisted canopy, casting jagged shadows that danced across the ground. Claire’s body still hummed with the adrenaline from the hunt, her hands trembling as she struggled to reconcile what she’d done. The metallic scent of blood clung to her, refusing to fade.
Ahead, Ethan slowed, his sharp gaze scanning the trees. His movements were precise, every step calculated. Claire knew something was wrong before he even said a word.
“Ethan,” she whispered, her voice unsteady. “What is it?”
He raised a hand to silence her, his head c****d slightly as if listening for something only he could hear. Seconds stretched into an eternity before he finally spoke.
“They’re
